The tendency for articles like this is to make a joke and massive exaggeration about something mildly comical happening in the world of professional sports. However, sometimes the jokes write themselves.
It has been reported that the Green Bay Packers have offered veteran quarterback, future hall of famer and vicodan-poster boy Brett Favre an estimated $20 million to not make any further attempts to play professional football this year.
Current Green Bay quarterback Arron “A-Rod” Rodgers has been announced as the starting quarterback and has been receiving full support from the Packers organization, so much so that the Packers are will to pay 100 times what the young quarterback is worth just so that he doesn’t get his feelings hurt by sitting out another season.
- B/R Ticket Guide
Favre, a record holder in several categories, has been creating a considerable—and already annoying—buzz in the NFL by announcing his intention to comeback for another season.
Some NFL analysts' suggestion that Favre’s best chance at another NFL title is with the revamped and defensively stacked Minnesota Vikings. Investigations have been pending on allegation that the Vikings have broken NFL rules by talking to Favre without approval.
Now for the jokes:
When word leaked out that an NFL team was willing to pay to keep one of the best to ever play the game from coming back several former Pro Bowl and Hall of Fame players have stepped up looking for contract negotiations.
These players include, but not limited to: Barry Sanders, Lawrence Taylor, Sen. Steve Larget, Dan Marino, Fran Tarkanton and a lawyer representing the estate of the late Reggie White.
Some former NFL players have found the offer put before Favre insulting, these players include Ryan Leif and Brian Bosworth. A legal representative of the two stated simply, “If anyone deserved to get paid not to play, it was my clients.”
Other players that it has been rumored “no play” offers have been put forth: Daunte Culpepper, Ricky Williams (or at least to stop trying), Eli Manning and the entire rosters of the Atlanta Falcons, Detroit Lions, Miami Dolphins and Oakland Raiders.
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4 months ago
Ha. Nice article.
Sadly, Green Bay tried to pay Daunte Culpepper to play only to later attempt to pay Brett to not. I'm still in the camp that he shouldn't come back, but I don't think he deserves any money to leave Green Bay alone this season.
from 4 months ago
That is why I am voting for the "drunk theory" in the Packers head office.
4 months ago
Jon, I definitely get the joke, but on the serious side this is all about the realties of contractual football. Brett Favre wants to play and he has the right to do so. The Packers ironically show a lack of confidence in Rodgers by not releasing Favre. "What?" You might say. What I mean is if they are so sure HE is their QB and HE is the future of the Packers then so be it. It shouldn't matter to them if Favre plays for the Vikings, the Bears, or whoever because (according to them) they have a better option at QB than Brett right? So that means they shouldn't have any problems against a team that has Favre because they have a better QB. I think, of course, that they are out of their minds. Favre is a proven superstar, Rodgers is an unknown, unproven, entity. Kind of like purchasing a raffle ticket, you just hope for the best.
from 4 months ago
I see what you are saying, but I still think that there is the possibility that Rogers is very easy to make cry. And maybe with a little luck, his eyes will still be watery for the season opener against the Vikings!
4 months ago
For anyone visiting http://savebrett.net/
Scroll down to the right and click on View Signatures and Comments.
It is amazing that just within a few days the numbers went form 6000 to 12000. This petition has more entries than Get out of IRAQ.
How many free agents would want to sign with Green Bay when the positions are not up for competition? If you treat the winningest HOF QB in the history of the NFL this way how will you be treated?
from 4 months ago
Wow, that just makes me really really sad.
4 months ago
How sad it is that we must pay a player not to play. Although, I do believe that Brett is a cry baby and should have been let go by the Packers. I have and always will be a Packer fan, not an individual player's fan. The ride was fun with Favre at the helm, but it is and has been for awhile, time to say good bye to Favre and begin a new era with a team that will play together for each other.
from 4 months ago
However, there is a good chance that the new era will be marred by losses on Miamian level.
4 months ago
FAVRE IS THE PACKERS! THEY WON'T BE JACK W/O HIM. THEY SHOULD PAY HIM BIG BUCKS TO COME BACK, NOT STAY AWAY. THESE FOLKS THAT SAY FAVRE IS A HAS BEEN, NEED TO LOOK AT HIS STATS FROM LAST YEAR. OLD OR NOT, HE'S STILL GOT IT.
from 4 months ago
In all fairness, Favre is the one that walked away in the first place. Perhaps he was high at the time.
4 months ago
THERES MORE TO THIS STORY THAN IS BEING TOLD. BRETT A CRY BABY? WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT THE GAME. I BET YOUR ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE THAT SET AROUND AND SECOND GUESS
EVERY MOVE ON THE FIELD AND ALL YOU KNOW ABOUT THE GAME IS WHAT SOMEONE WRITES
OR SAYS ON THE T.V. THAT WOULDNT KNOW HOW TO BUCKLE A HELMET.HIS RECORDS SPEEK FOR THEMSELF AND THE YEAR HE HAD LAST YEAR.THE PACKERS WANT TO MOVE AHEAD GOOD LUCK
THERES NOT MUCH ROOM TO GO FORWARD 2 PLACES NFC CHAMPIONSHIP AND SUPERBOWL
GOOD LUCK.
from 4 months ago
Sit, not set.
4 months ago
If Brett wants to come back and play - he's Green Bay's best chance at a championship ring - LET HIM PLAY! If he hadn't decided to retire, he'd still be the starter. I feel for Aaron Rogers....but let's face facts. If Brett had never filed his retirement papers, Aaron would be looking at being traded, and the Pack would be playing Favre while grooming the youngsters to take over in a year or two. The Packers need to wake up and take him back with open arms.
There's nothing better than watching Brett make plays happen. If he goes to another team, he won't be the same player.... c'mon Green Bay - wake up and take him back. I wanna cheer on #4 again this year!!!
from 4 months ago
I kinda have to agree with this one. If Favre doesn't have an open invitation to play, who does? Or should anyone?
I miss John Randle.
4 months ago
20million.....20million.....20million not to come back...WOW the Packers Org are real CHEEESEHEADS!!! Just cut the man(Brett) and move on and when Aron Rogers is picking his cock up off the field and the org. turns its back on him(Arron..cause we all know that when you win WE ALL LOVE YOU, but loose and start backing up the Uhaul)the fans will realize what a mistake they(Packers front office) made...OR Let Faver come back and stink it up and then start Rogers and when he fails..back up the Uhaul truck....but 20million.......20million.....20million.
4 months ago
Let's face facts, the Packers have blundered by not accepting Brett Favre back.
1) Public Relation Blunder, he was their QB for 17 years and will be a Hall of Famer. He still has the arm and apparently the drive, they should have welcomed him back.
2) Offering $20M not to play? Seriously, that is a joke.
3) Trading him to another team? Most serious blunder of all, especially when he shows up on Lambeau and picks apart the GB system and schools Aaron Rogers or the next red shirt Yeoman the Packers send out.
The only way this turns out OK is for the Packer Coaches and Head Office to "graciously" admit they made an error and welcome Brett back for another run.
Imagine if Chicago had told MJ to go pound sand for another team in the '90's. The Packers stance makes about as much sense.
from 4 months ago
Unless my memory is fleeting, didn't the Bulls tell MJ that they didn't want him back. Didn't MJ go play for the wizards the following year? I guess I could be wrong but I thought that is how it played out.
4 months ago
Let Favre play where he wants, I can't believe they would pay him not to play. Are they afraid of Favre I know he is the man. Aaron Rodgers will not last this season he will get injured in the coming weeks then they will wish they had Favre. I hope Favre goes to the vikings or Tampa Bay. Green Bay management shoild grow some balls and release Favre since they are"sticking with Rodgers"
4 months ago
Funny, pay me 20mil, I won't play either.....
from 4 months ago
I hear that, I've been doing that for free all my life. I've been wasting my lack of talent.
4 months ago
How many people commenting on here are actually Packer Fans let alone from WI? (Obviously Jon is not.) For nearly two decades Favre has been Green and Gold. Around here, we bleed Green and Gold and we as football fans, no, as Packer fans, have march down field along side him, cheered for him, cried for him, and (metaphorically) bled with him. If you doubt this you've never sat side by side with a native Wisconsinite during the game. He is and always will be a legend and when he retired, hearts were broken. But we all knew it had to come and so it did. It was his choice. He knew the stakes. He went forward with a tearful farewell on national television. All that said, for as much as I and we all love him, he is tarnishing the hell out of his legacy with all of this bullshit. He has been thinking about retiring for years. You do not go from being settled to it and carrying it out, to less than five months later go "oops... changed my mind." This is not like ordering steak and changing your mind to fish once the order has made it to the kitchen. He is not a rookie. He's shared the field with Steve Young, Joe Montana, and Dan Marino. He knows the score. You do not take your wife dancing all night and just when you're about to get in the car, run back in for one more (let alone with another woman.) [That should be read as "Favre, don't you fucking dare go play with any other team - ever.] He is a legend and always will be. But as much as he made Green Bay, Green Bay and others in the organizations history (Holmgren, Mariucci, Sharpe, White, etc.) made Favre. We even named a street after him. He needs to come to his senses, admit he was wrong for this fiasco, humble himself, be content with his millions, his loving wife, his celebrity, his legendary status and carve a new chapter for himself. Let Green Bay, Aaron Rogers and company, Wisconsinites everywhere, the NFL and all your fans move-on. And do so with the same grace you played the game.
from 4 months ago
As a fellow resident of Titletown, let me applaud you for your succinct and accurate portrayl of the Favre fiasco.
from 4 months ago
Obviously, however, this article isn't mocking Favre, it's mocking the idea that a player would get paid not to play. Especially Brett Favre.
from 4 months ago
I agree with you. I think Favre really needs to move on as a retired player. Favre was such an iconic Packer that Green Bay doesn't want his final days in the NFL to be spent on another team. I don't think they are "scared" of Favre so much as they are scared of the fan reaction when they send him away.
Green Bay wants to move on, and they need Favre to step aside.
4 months ago
Saying no to Favre is like saying no to winning. Gee, the Packers can go with a injury prone unproven rookie or the Packers can go with a bullet proof proven winner/ future hall of fame player. Duh! It's a no brainer. Some teams spend years looking for a winner like Favre. Has Miami replaced Dan Marino with a winner yet?
These knuckle heads are always saying it's a business, it's a business decision. Well if it is a business decision then Favre is the answer. Fact is Favre puts people in the seats, Favre maximizes TV ratings, therefore Favre maximizes revenue and profits for the league. Favre is a force multiplier for the NFL profits. Which explains the commissioners involvement in trying to fix this problem.
If fan's don't like the Packers business decision then may be they should show it by boycotting the family night scrimmage and hitting the Packers where it hurts the most - the pocket book/decreasing the revenue.
4 months ago
The worst part is how the Packers organization has treated THEIR Legend.
They treated Javon Walker like a GOD compared to Favre!
And I thought Favre Was their God! Holy Mary Mother of Favre…
The Packers Force a Decision prematurely,…then ask him again to reconsider as they move on.
Only to say no when he does finally want to come back. They all the sudden acted like they had to play a whole year without him, sucked, (which they will) and its all his fault! That’s what it comes down to,
The Pack Organization basically blames him…“Its Brett’s Fault we didn’t go to the Super bowl !” Overlooking the fact that it was Favre and his fast arm that got them there! Maybe McCarthy should have called a run play in that overtime 1st down! You Think? Thanks alot Mike McDoucheBag!
1. Can’t Start/ Can’t Compete: Packers say he can Backup “A. Rodg” (Dumbest nickname ever) and hold a clipboard on the sidelines next to the Gatorade Cooler! NICE Welcome Back! (Biggest insult ever said to a QB Legend)( Not a great way to Protect his Legacy, which they acted Sooo worried about. Please!)they didn’t even say compete for Starting QB cause we all know what that outcome would be! Ha Ha Ha Ha
Not even a chance “A Rodg”
2. No Release for you!: After Brett decides to be the better man and NOT tell Mike and teddy to Go Eat Dirt, …He asks for his release (as any man with a backbone would do)to go to a team that DOES want him and his Legendary skills. Seems like 2/3 of the NFL could use a Favre!
Just so happens that the Vikings are a QB or so shy of being true contenders.(on paper).After that of course all of the Packers Staff and fans just Pinched out a Few Bricks! (Not as bad as the Bears)(Not Good Enough to start over “A Rodg” but Too Good to go to a Division rival)I’m sure they’d love to see him on the Cheifs!
3.Trade? What Trade?: Jets and Tampa can stop having fisted fantasies about Favre,. .He Actually wants to win! So they should give up unless their going to immediately trade him to the Vikings.
("Miami doesn't need favre")?really?,...i guess they dont need to win either! They must STILL be rebuilding after they did the same thing to Dan Marino! Pay Backs a bitch! Ha Ha Ha Ha Very Much Deserved! "The NFL,...Dolphin Safe for 10 years!
4.Buyout = Paid to go Away!: As if asking him to backup his former Towel boy was not Insulting enough
Now they fly Murphy down to “sippi” with a check for 20 million For Favre to stay home and Mow his Lawn! Ha Ha Ha,…are you serious? “No Respect I tell Ya ,…No Respect!”
here’s an idea….
LET BRETT FAVRE GO! If he ain’t shit to you and you want something in return,…trade him to the Vikings! YOUR MOVING FORWARD RIGHT? If your Soooo pumped up on “A Rodg”, THEN YOU HAVE NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT. Then DO WHATS RIGHT AND LET HIM GO SOMEWHERE HE IS WANTED. YOU HAVEN’T GIVEN HIM ANY OPTIONS SO DO THE RIGHT THING!
from 4 months ago
I figured I would just comment on the second of your diatribes by saying: holy crap. Your rant was longer than my article.
from 4 months ago
Not to dumb on your rant here, but I have to wonder why you would say Green Bay treated Javon Walker like a God compared to Favre...
Quoted from ESPN:
"Favre offended Walker when he spoke out against the receiver in his contract dispute, saying he should come to training camp and not hold out. (Walker heeded the advice.) Walker believes Favre's comments made living and working in Wisconsin difficult; Walker tells of one instance when he was in a hotel and an employee announced his presence on an Internet message board for "anyone who had something to say to Javon Walker." It also angered Walker that the team allowed its iconic quarterback to interfere publicly in a teammate's business with management. He held his tongue all year."
End quote. Whole article here: http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2361969
Not long after that...Walker was out of Green Bay. If anything, I would say Green Bay treated Brett Favre like a God compared to Javon Walker.
4 months ago
Ted Thompson's legacy will be defined by his poor decisions of recent weeks and weeks to come. He's probably a decent talent evaluator, but he is horrible from a PR standpoint and is letting personal differences come between the Packers and the pursuit of a winning organization. Obviously there are bridges that were burned between Favre and TT. I have had conflicts with people at work as well, and at the end of the day, the job still has to get done. TT is not doing his job. Favre has waffled and twisted around about his retirement for years, but that should only be hard on the organization if they wanted him out all along. I think something has been brewing between Thompson and Favre for awhile now. But the bottom line is that Favre wants to play, and the Pack have rights to him. Renegotiate the contract, open up a competition to see who the best QB, and let things handle themselves, leave it up to mccarthy; that's what I would do. Problem is they have already laid their path and they would have to backtrack on so many statements now, like "we're moving forward", and "aaron rodgers is our starter". Sometimes you just have to realize you made a mistake. Imagine Brett kicking our ass in the opener on monday night in the purple and gold. that seems most possible now, and the Packers, especially TT, deserve it. I see the headlights getting brighter and brighter, with Favre driving, and Ted Thompson is the deer, and this is sure to end in a wreck.
from 4 months ago
I totally agree. I don't believe that the actual Packers team deserves to lose to Favre, because they've been backing him throughout this. Mr. Thompson on the other hand....
4 months ago
Jon! You were soooo Close to getting my Pick of the day. It was original, it was comical, it was accurate(excluding the bottom half) but then you threw in your negative biased view of the Oakland Raiders and all credibility went out the door. Oh well, maybe the next one. Good Read tho
from 4 months ago
Done in again by my disdain for team's whose fans threaten me with death. Blast!
4 months ago
Go Aaron Rodgers, screw Brett Favre.
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